The heat of Preaton was relentless, a far cry from the cool, shadowed woods of Ashstone, wrapped in the dense mystery of the Forest of Beasts.
The sun blazed down on Vyan and Clyde as they wound through the bustling streets, their strides sluggish under the intensity of the midday warmth. Vyan, who was in the appearance of a common-looking man, found himself unbottoning the top buttons of his shirt, which now clung to him like a second, unwelcome layer.
Clyde, fanning himself with exaggerated motions, cast a half-hearted glare toward Vyan. "I have to hand it to you, my lord, picking Preaton for a field trip? Genius idea. Why not choose somewhere with a roasting pit and get it over with?"
Vyan snorted, wiping his forehead. "It's called 'commitment to a cause,' Clyde. Though I admit, I didn't expect to find us in the heart of a desert masquerading as a city."
